Pollen and Health Issues

Kashmir, like other parts of the globe, is also witnessing the change in the seasons, while most of the time, the Valley witnesses cold temperatures due to which the people wear more clothes to keep themselves warm. As soon as the winter season culminates, the people in Kashmir just with the arrival of spring season face health issues, which are mostly the outcome of pollen, being witnessed everywhere nowadays. Poplar trees release pollen that accumulates in the form of cotton balls causing multiple allergies like running nose, chest infections, eye allergies and skin rashes. Because of pollen, there is a rise in respiratory diseases particularly among children. The measures were taken by the government to cut down female Russian poplars—the primary source of pollen-induced allergy in the region during the spring season. However, despite elapsing several years since then, the situation continued to remain unchanged as the poplar trees continue to release the pollen, causing health issues to the people, especially children. The health experts have been issuing advisories to the people, asking people to take precautionary measures like wearing masks and taking medicines including anti-allergic tablets, and in case the infection is high then antibiotics are prescribed. Therefore, the people at this juncture should take all the precautionary measures to prevent themselves from the infections while as the concerned authorities should also take steps to cut down these Russian poplar trees so that the pollen is put to an end in the coming years and the people could heave a sigh of relief.